We just finished putting up our new LED christmas lights. They use 80% less energy and the diodes are rated for 200,000 hours. Assuming the cords don’t break, we’re set for a long time.
I also helped my parents put up their new red LED christmas lights. They’ve been using the same strings of red C7 bulbs for nearly 20 years, and the same decorating scheme for the same. In fact, I’ve helped my dad put up the lights for most of those years. Some years we couldn’t find red replacements so we’d spray-paint clear bulbs red.
Anyway, the dilemma now is what to do with those old strings of lights. Give them away? Or remove them from use? They’re quite inefficient, but by giving them away we’re at least preventing the purchase of more. But hey – 20 years is a pretty good stint for christmas lights.
Addendum:
It just turned dark enough for the new LED lights to be appreciable. In contrast to the small incandescent bulbs, they’re rather blue and dim. Michelle is kind of disappointed because they “lack warmth”, but that’s exactly why they save energy – they aren’t producing heat. I think they’re beautiful, but we could work on twisting them to line up better.
Are they super-bright, flashlight-type LEDs or are they pretty weak? Those bright ones would make AWESOME Christmas lights!
Yup – they’re the same type as in new flashlights and headlamps. They’re pretty cool, but have that same bluish glow to them.
Hi,
I read your posting with interest.
Its not clear, unless I missed a bit, as to the colour of the LEDs, but I gather they are supposed to be white.
It is possible if cheaper, B or C Grade LEDs are used, to appear a little blue.
The design and construction of the LED will also have an affect on the brightness of the leds.
Do you have any technical specification or the make and manufacture of the lights, this may “shine some light” on the situation.
As for the 200,000 hours, I am a little scepticul as most led lighting products are rated between 50,000 to 100,000 hours.
Good site, I will continue to browse for a while.
Merry Christmas
Hi Simon,
The bulbs are white, and I imagine you’re right to be skeptical about their lifespan. I doubt the sockets and cording will last long enough to tell their true lifespan though. :)
They must be of a lower grade judging by the price. We got them from a local hardware store for about half of what we’d seen the white bulbs elsewhere. Though I must admit they’re the same white/blue that all LED of the sort are. It doesn’t bug me though because I like the color.